Posts Tagged "support"

The Weird and Wonderful World of Blogging

Posted by cafebebemama on Feb 25, 2010 in Blogger Love, Motherhood | 18 comments

Midlands Bloggers at the Pampers/UNICEF event, 2009

I have come to realise that I am throughly entrenched in the weird and wonderful world of blogging.  Sometimes I wonder if that is a good thing?  When I began blogging in May of 2009, I never would have imagined what it could have done for me or how it would have changed me.  I’ve found myself; found my voice; found new strength thanks to blogging.  I’m a more confident person now but I still have a weakness…a tender heart.  I take knocks and it seems that quite a few others do as well.  Some react well, bounce back stronger and shake it off.  Others don’t.  Some bloggers have hung up their blogging boots as it just wasn’t worth it.  The word bullying is one that’s dropped in the press these days here in the UK and I wonder, sometimes, if it’s happening here in the blogosphere.

Many bloggers stay well out of it, write, read, enjoy and don’t get sucked in.  Some bloggers seem to be at the centre of every hullabaloo in the Parent Blogging community.  Some bloggers fan the flames and some light the fires.  Why?  Why do we do this to each other?  The UK Parent Blogging community is small but growing and we need to support each other and be proud of each other’s achievements.

It’s hard, I think, when there are incentives involved.  Those of us who are more competitive and are making part-time employment out of our blogs and our writing are understandably ambitious.  But what does that ambition get you?  Not so very long ago, I was motivated by PR requests and a “just ask” philosophy.  I received things in exchange for mention and/or review on my site.  I now see that those choices may not have been correct.  I never wanted to be seen as a “swag hag”.  I wanted to be recognised for my writing and maybe become a “top blogger“.  Not for the  acquisition of THINGS but for the sense of accomplishment and for the knowledge that people enjoyed what I wrote and wanted to tune in for more.  I have changed my tune a bit and focused on my writing and found a new energy for my writing.

Suddenly I have a slightly different feeling about blogging.  I appreciate interest from PR’s but I am not desperate to snap up everything on offer.  I see opportunities for WRITING and not for GETTING.  I want to be respected so I’m trying not to get bogged down in the mud with the games that are played.  It’s a bit like secondary school sometimes!  But what I don’t see are the Daddy Bloggers getting sucked in.  The Mummy Bloggers seem to be the ones throwing teddies and smearing each other.  Is it our hormones?  Our female nature to lash out?  Our Maternal Instinct kicking in?  I think the Daddy Bloggers are far wiser in this case…just blog…don’t slog!

I’ve really been welcomed into the UK Parent Blogging community.  I’ve met new friends who I think I may know better than some of my real life friends.  I know if I have a “wobble”, I can turn to one of them for support and a virtual shoulder.  I love this weird and wonderful world of blogging.  I’d just like for us all to just get along.  The Bloggers who have taken me under their wings and have given me professional advice know who they are and the list is longer every day.  I would like to say, to all of you, thank you for the love and for the warm welcome.  I hope we can all just take a step back, realise that there are far worse things going on in homes all over the world and share the love again.